Stachys plant named ‘Pink Cotton Candy’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Stachys  plant, ‘Pink Cotton Candy’, characterized by its flowers that are bright pink and two-toned in color with the upper lip of the petals lighter pink in color than the lower lip of the petals, its combination of newly opened flowers and fading flowers that impart an addition two-tone effect to the inflorescences, its free-flowering habit with an abundance of blooms produces for at least 8 weeks during the summer months, its robust and dense mound of deep green foliage with upright flowering stems arising above the foliage, and its hardiness in U.S.D.A Zones 4 to 8.

Botanical classification: Stachys officinalis.

Variety denomination: ‘Pink Cotton Candy’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Stachys plant, botanically known as Stachys officinalis ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ and will be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘Pink Cotton Candy’. The new cultivar of Stachys is a hardy herbaceous perennial grown for landscape use.

‘Pink Cotton Candy’ was discovered in July of 2002 as a naturally occurring whole plant mutation in the breeder's evaluation garden plot in Glencoe, Ill. The parents of the new cultivar are unknown, however ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ was discovered growing between unnamed plants of Stachys officinalis, Stachys officinalis ‘Alba’(not patented) and Stachys officinalis ‘Rosea’ (not patented).

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by division in March of 2004 by the Inventor in Glencoe, Ill. It has been determined that the characteristics are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ as a unique cultivar of Stachys.

-   -   1. ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ exhibits flowers that are bright pink in         color; they are two-tone with the upper lip of the petals         lighter pink in color than the lower lip of the petals.     -   2. ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ exhibits flowers that fade to a lighter         pink color with the combination of newly opened flowers and         fading flowers imparting an addition two- tone effect to the         inflorescences.     -   3. ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ exhibits a free-flowering habit with an         abundance of blooms produced for at least 8 weeks during the         summer months.     -   4. ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ exhibits a robust, dense mound of deep         green foliage with upright flowering stems arising above the         foliage.     -   5. ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ is hardy at least in USDA Zones 4 to 8.

In comparison to the most probable parent plants: Stachys officinalis differs from ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ in having purple flowers, ‘Alba’ differs from ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ in having white flowers, and ‘Rosea’ differs from ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ in having lighter pink flowers that often fade to white or appear washed out in strong sunlight. ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ can also be compared to the cultivar ‘Saharan Pink’ (not patented). ‘Saharan Pink’ is similar to ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ in having flowers that exhibit a coloration of two-tones of pink, however ‘Saharan Pink’ is a seed-strain with a smaller stature, less uniformity in plant habit, produces about 50% less flowers at peak bloom, and produces flowers that are lighter pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Stachys. The plants and plant parts depicted in the photographs were taken of plants of ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ that were four years in age as grown outdoors in a trial garden in Glencoe, Ill.

The photograph in FIG. 1 shows the uniformity in plant habit and the abundance of two-toned bright pink flowers.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence. The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Stachys.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of two year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in a garden in New Hope, Minn. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Blooms for at least 8 weeks, typically             blooming from late June or early July through late August.         -   Plant habit.—Herbaceous perennial with a robust, dense mound             of deep green foliage with upright flowering stems arising             above the foliage.         -   Height and spread.—Matures to about 56 cm in height (28 cm             without blooms) and 56 cm in width.         -   Hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 8.         -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to             diseases or pests has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Propagation.—Division.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate. -   Stem description (flowering):     -   -   Shape.—Square.         -   Stem color.—144A to 144B.         -   Stem size.—Average of 2.2 mm in diameter and 56 cm in length             (including peduncle).         -   Stem surface.—Pubescent.         -   Branching habit.—Non-branching.         -   Stem quantity.—Average of 20 per plant 2 years in age. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf shape.—Basal leaves; ovate-oblong, stem leaves; broadly             lanceolate.         -   Leaf size.—Basal leaves; variable with mature leaves up to             8.5 cm in length and 5.5 cm in width, stem leaves; variable             with mature leaves up to 7.8 cm in length and 3.5 cm in             width.         -   Leaf number.—Average of 85 basal leaves and an average of 2             pairs on stems.         -   Leaf base.—Cordate.         -   Leaf apex.—Basal leaves; rounded, stem leaves; acute.         -   Leaf margin.—Basal leaves; crenate with mucronate tip, about             14 per side on a leaf 8 cm in length, stem leaves; serrate             with about 10 per leaf 4.5 cm in length.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, mid rib is 145B on upper surface and             145C on lower surface on both basal and stem leaves.         -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface and lower surface (all leaves);             very finely puberulent (glabrous in appearance), lower             surface is satiny.         -   Leaf internode length.—Stem leaves; 7 to 10 cm.         -   Leaf color.—New and mature (all leaves) upper surface; 137A             to 137B, new and mature (all leaves) lower surface; 137C.         -   Petioles.—Basal leaves; average of 8 cm in length and 2 mm             in width, 146A in color, pubescent surface, stem leaves;             average of 4.5 cm in length and 1.5 mm in width on lower             pair and 5 mm in length and 1.5 mm in length on upper pair,             146A in color, pubescent surface.         -   Foliage fragrance.—None. -   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—6 to 8 terminal verticillasters (dense             whorls) of bilabiate flowers.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Individual flowers last 2 to 3             days, each verticillaster lasts about 4 weeks.         -   Inflorescence size.—About 4.5 cm in depth and 2.5 cm in             diameter.         -   Flower type.—Bilabiate.         -   Flower number.—An average of 30 flowers per verticillaster,             180 to 240 flowers per inflorescence.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Flower buds.—Oblanceolate in shape, an average of 1.3 cm in             length and 4 mm in width at apex, surface is glabrous, color             a blend of 73C and 73D with calyx a blend of 138B and 138C.         -   Flower size.—About 1.5 cm in length and about 1.2 cm in             diameter.         -   Peduncles.—Range from 3 to 10 cm in length (average of 5 m)             and an average of 2.2 mm in width with the internode between             verticillaster about 8 mm, surface is densely covered with             white hairs, color 144A covered with hairs 144D in color,             leaves at base of verticillaster; lanceolate in shape,             serrated margins with stiff hairs, both surfaces are             puberulent, acute apex, cuneate base, sessile.         -   Pedicels.—None, sessile to peduncle.         -   Bracts.—2 to 4 per flower, lanceolate in shape, an average             of 3.5 mm in length and 1.5 mm in width, pubescent surface,             cuneate base, aristulate apex.         -   Calyx.—5-pointed, campanulate in shape, about 7.5 mm in             length and 4 mm in width, persistent.         -   Sepals.—5, primarily fused with unfused tips, triangular in             shape and about 1.5 mm in width and length, 144C to 144D in             color with tips 144A, surface is puberulent with longer             hairs on margins of tips, aristulate apex, entire margins.         -   Petals.—Fused base with unfused portion spreading and             2-lipped, lower lip; broadly obovate in shape, base is             truncate to tube, 3-lobed with a rounded apex on each lobe             with center lobe larger, margin is entire on side lobes and             irregularly crenate on center lobe, about 6 mm in length and             6 mm in width, color of upper surface is a blend of 73B and             73C with 2 plumose crests on center lobe 68A, color of lower             surface is a blend of 73C and 73D, upper lip; ovate in             shape, retuse apex, base truncate to tube, margin is entire             except for a notch on each side and at the apex, about 6 mm             in length and 4 mm in width, color of both surfaces is a             blend of 73C and 73D, tube portion; about 1 cm in length and             3 mm in width, color is a blend of 73C and 73D with the base             NN155B surface of all segments on both surfaces is             puberulent, color of all petals fade to 73D. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—1 Pistil, style is about 8.5 mm in length, 0.3 mm             in width and NN155D in color, stigma is bi-fid, about 0.3 mm             in diameter and 145D in color, ovary is superior, about 0.5             mm in diameter, translucent and 195B in color.         -   Androecium.—4 stamens, filament is about 9 mm cm in length,             adnate to corolla and 73D in color, anthers are globose in             shape, about 0.7 mm in diameter, dorsifixed, and 177A in             color, pollen is abundant and 162C in color.         -   Fruit.—Fruit and seed production was not observed under the             conditions tested. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Stachys plant designated ‘Pink Cotton Candy’ as described and illustrated herein. 